American molecular biologists have established that injections of the protein PF4, present in high concentrations in “young blood”, produced a strong rejuvenating effect on the brains of old rodents and considerably improved their cognitive abilities, reports the press service of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

“We have established that the PF4 protein rejuvenates the immune system and forces it to produce fewer signals that accelerate aging. As a result, the brain suffers from inflammation less frequently, while its cells more actively form new bonds and accomplish goals more efficiently. Using this substance, we have rejuvenated the brains of elderly mice, comparable to people in their 70s, of 30 or even 40 years of age proportionally, “said UCSF professor Saul Villeda, quoted by the press service. of the University.

In 2005, American biologists established that a junction between the vascular systems of young rats and older rodents rejuvenated the brains of the latter. These experiments have generated much debate about the nature of these effects. More recently, scientists have confirmed this rejuvenation of the brain and have linked the improvement in the cognitive abilities of rodents to a greater presence of the CLU protein in the blood of young mice.

Saul Villeda and his colleagues have established that an important role in the rejuvenation process also belongs to another protein, a PF4 peptide. This substance is produced by thrombocytes and plays an important role in stopping bleeding and repairing wounds, as well as in the development of inflammation and the fight against certain infections such as malaria.

Experiments by this group of researchers revealed a much higher presence of this protein in the blood plasma of young mice compared to that of older rodents. The scientists therefore decided to verify the results of the transfusion of a larger quantity of PF4, without the other elements of “young blood”.

Guided by this idea, the researchers acquired a group of 22-month-old mice – equivalent to people in their 70s – and injected large doses of PF4 into half of these rodents for about three weeks. Observations subsequently showed that these transfusions had significantly reduced the frequency of inflammation of the nervous tissue and had significantly improved the plasticity of the nervous system (the ability of neurons to form new bonds) and the cognitive abilities of the rodents.

Scientists have also established that the presence of PF4 increases thanks to physical exercises and injections of the longevity hormone Klotho, which explains, according to them, why these slow down the aging of the nervous system.

Source: Burkina Information Agency